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Poem #12: Get Deductive

Deductive thinking moves from general principles to specific instances. Often, as in a thesis/support essay, prose writers make a general claim and then use specific details and examples to illustrate and back up their point.

Use this thought process, seriously or playfully, to structure your poem. Notice, for instance, how the 18th century poet Christopher Smart uses concrete, specific details to illustrate his general claims, made in lines two and seven:

from "Jubilate Agno"

[My Cat Jeoffrey]

For I will consider my cat Jeoffrey.

For he is the servant of the living god duly and daily serving him.

For at the first glance of glory of God in the East he worships in his way.

For this is done by wreathing his body seven times round with elegant quickness.

For then he leaps up to catch the musk, which is the blessing of God upon his prayer.

5

For he rolls upon prank to work it in.

For having done duty and received blessing he begins to consider himself.

For this he performs in ten degrees.

For first he looks upon his fore-paws to see if they are clean.

For secondly he kicks up behind his ear to clear away there.

For thirdly he works it upon stretch with the fore-paws extended.. . .

10

Make your claim, serious or playful, then fast-write ten to fifteen lines of concrete, specific support.